The U.K.-based nonprofit Medical Aid for Palestinians was established 40 years ago with the goal of improving healthcare for all Palestinians. When conflict erupted between Israel and Hamas in the fall of 2023, CEO Melanie Ward knew her organization had to step in. She believed that responding to such crises was the very reason the organization was founded.
Soon after Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Ward and her team sprang into action. They quickly arranged for their warehouses in Gaza to begin distributing over $500,000 worth of medical supplies in anticipation of an Israeli response. In the weeks following, Medical Aid for Palestinians provided essential items like food, hygiene kits, blankets, mattresses, and about $7 million in medical supplies to the people of Gaza.
The organization also deployed six teams of international healthcare workers to assist local doctors in treating the large number of injured individuals in Gaza’s dwindling number of functioning hospitals. Thanks to its dedicated local staff, Medical Aid for Palestinians is one of the few international aid groups with a physical presence in the hardest-hit areas of northern Gaza.
In the midst of these efforts, Ward plays a crucial role in managing the organization’s overall strategy while also ensuring that global leaders are informed about the gravity of the situation. She has briefed King Charles III, Members of the U.K. Parliament, and U.N. representatives on the ongoing crisis. Ward views bearing witness to the unfolding events as an essential part of her responsibilities.